Babies by the Sea Boutique in Cardiff by the Sea is proud to offer a rental program for Hygeia's EnDeare™ Breast Pump. The EnDeare is a hospital-grade electric/battery single or double pump with all the performance and hygienic features found in hospitals.  Pumping with the EnDeare is truly a personalized experience, as there are customizable speed and pressure controls as well as audio recording (Hint: Record your baby's cries to encourage let down,  enhance your milk flow and overall pumping experience).  All pump parts that come into contact with your breastmilk are BPA/DEHP free, so you can rest easy knowing your milk is safe.

This is a great economical option (pay each month as you go) for our moms who are looking for an efficient and trustworthy pump without the commitment of purchasing.  The EnDeare pump rents for $45/month, and the Personal Accessory Set is sold separately.

For the month of February, rent a Hygeia pump and receive a pair of Bamboobies heart-shaped organic bamboo nursing pads for free!

San Diego moms, call Babies by the Sea Boutique at 760-230-4272 to reserve your pump today.

Hope to see y'all there!  More info can be found here

I started to write a very long post about baby sleep and the dangers of the cry it out method, and then I read this amazing article from Rachel Rainbolt of Ohana Wellness, and instead, I just asked her if I could reprint her words.  Lucky for you, Babies by the Sea Boutique blog readers, she said she'd love to share.  On her blog, Rachel writes about her own experience as a mom, and she even has a new DVD demonstrating relaxing infant massage techniques, now available at Babies by the Sea Boutique.  I hope you love her writing as much as I do!

It’s 3:00am and while the rest of the world is in a peaceful slumber you are...not.  You are up, half dressed, pacing vigorously up and down the hallway with a crying baby in your arms.  Your hair is in your eyes, which are bloodshot, dry, and burning.  As your body aches with fatigue and your nipples throb, your heart aches more for the sadness pouring out of this little extension of yourself.  You are hearing all of those advice-givers in your head telling you that, “You will spoil him if you hold him too much.”  “If you don’t leave him in his crib, he will never learn to sleep through the night.”  “If you pick him up every time he cries he will only cry more.”  You are just reaching a new level of desperation in your fatigue when your pacing lands you in the doorway to your bedroom.  Your eyes fall on your partner who is in perfect sync with the rest of the world, sleeping peacefully.  That’s it.  You put the baby alarm right in front of his face and say, “Your turn!” as you walk out of the room for a breather.

(Laura and baby Rion, courtesy of Melissa Koehler Photography)
 
I am going to give you the secret to sleeping through the night: don’t have a baby!   Parenting is a 24-hour job.  Their needs don’t stop just because the sun goes down.  We’ve all been there.  Everyone who has ever had a baby has been there.  And in our zeal to be the best parent we can be, combined with the exhaustion a new mother faces, we try to impose all these ideas of what nighttime should be on ourselves: the pictures of a baby sleeping soundly in a perfectly designed crib in a perfectly outfitted nursery, your mother-in-law telling you the only way to get any sleep is to let her “cry it out,” maybe even your pediatrician warning you that whatever you do- don’t bring baby in to your bed.   It is so important to enter parenthood and approach nighttime with appropriate expectations.  And I’m sorry if I’m the one breaking it to you but newborns are not supposed to sleep through the night.

Babies wake during the night for a reason.  Many of the reasons are evolutionary defense mechanisms that serve as protective factors for baby.  You may not always be able to figure out the reasons your baby is waking but you should respect them.  It is suspected that one potential cause of infant death from SIDS is not waking when the body signals something is wrong.  Your baby is not waking during the night out of a manipulative and sadistic plot to destroy your life and breakdown your sanity.  There are some common reasons for night waking and some preventative measures you can take to set your child up for success, maximizing the amount of sleep that is safe and healthy for your baby.  

So what’s wrong with these adorable little poop machines?  Why don’t they sleep at night?  I’m sorry to have to say this but it’s partly mom’s fault.  Throughout 9 months of pregnancy, baby comes into existence and consciousness under these circumstances: rocked and swayed and soothed with voices all day, still, quiet and bored all night.  Mom is up moving, walking, turning and talking all day long.  It’s like rocking baby in a rocking chair while singing a lullaby.  Then nighttime rolls around and mom lays still and silent in bed.  Most mothers will attest to the fact that by the end of pregnancy, sleep is nearly impossible because come night time, baby is bouncing all around in there, wide awake.  Starting out your nighttime relationship under these circumstances puts you at a disadvantage, having to rewrite your baby’s internal sleep clock.  The best and fastest way to accomplish this is to keep your day and night cues consistent.  During the day the blinds are open (the sun is the body’s most valuable cue) even and especially during naps, voices are standard volume, wear baby in the sling so he is safely exposed to movement, interaction, and gentle stimulation.  During the night blinds are closed, lights are off (a reading light or a television with a night dimmer can come in handy), movement is slow and rhythmic, voices are low and calm, and stimulation limited.      

A baby is born with a couple pressing tasks.  The first is to sucker grown-ups into a euphoric state of love assuring they will meet your needs (attachment).  The process of attachment (primary emotional, psychological, and social developmental task at birth) is so important that it cannot take half the day off (12 -20 hours is the amount of sleep a newborn needs).  One of the very common reasons for waking during the night involves hormone levels and brain chemicals.  This is such a valuable one to understand because it is so common, almost impossible for parents to detect, and one for which there is much you can do to help.  Within our brains we all have the “feel good” chemical hormones serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.  These hormone levels are raised by bonding interaction like touch, breastfeeding, closeness, etc.  There is a natural balance of these “feel good” hormones with “stress” hormones like cortisol.  Cortisol is produced when a baby is alone, crying, hungry, etc. (long term studies on cortisol and infant brain development tell us that babies with higher levels of cortisol have significantly negatively impacted brain development resulting in negative outcomes like lower IQ and emotional regulation compared to their more positively in balance infant counterparts).  When the levels of the “feel good” chemical hormones dip below a certain level, the baby’s brain emerges from the sleep cycle and alerts the body that the baby is not safely being cared for.  For infants, safety is instinctually defined by how directly invested the caregiver is at every moment because for an infant, neglect can be the difference between life and death.  They wake, reengage their caregiver, demand attachment promoting behaviors that simultaneous reinvest that caregiver and raise the levels of all those “feel good” hormone chemicals in their brains.

Understanding this cause of night waking from within the appropriate context allows you to see that there is a reason for the waking that should be respected but luckily there are many strategies for raising those “feel good” hormone chemical levels to their max, maximizing the amount of time they can sleep before they need a love refill.  Infant massage is a particularly effective strategy because it is like a supercharge of attachment promoting behavior.  During infant massage you are lovingly stroking your baby’s entire body, making eye contact, baby can feel your breath, hear your heartbeat, smell your essence, you are relaxing both yourself and your baby, soothing any discomforts from the day and sending her off to slumber with peak levels.  Warm baths with baby are also an effective strategy.  Tons of skin-to-skin contact, milk access, gentle touch, and warm water reminiscent of the womb are all powerful “feel good” hormone chemical raisers.  You can even combine the two, employing infant massage strokes as you wash your baby with his soap.  TheCosleeping easiest strategy for keeping those levels up and preventing waking is to put baby to sleep near you.  When he can smell you (one study found that a newborn could identify his mother in a line up by smell alone), feel your breath, hear your heartbeat, see you, and/or touch you, his chemical hormone levels are being fed while you are sleeping.  It doesn’t get much better or easier than passive nurturing and this arrangement frequently has the added benefit of more restful sleep for mom.

Breastfeeding is of course one of the most potent strategies and in addition to the attachment promoting benefit fills their bellies and increases saliva production which aides in nighttime digestion and brain development.  Cluster feeding (where baby nurses on and off for a stretch of a few hours) is something babies do naturally that should be encouraged as it provides parents with that valuable stretch of non-breastfeeding time that inevitably follows.  This leads us to the second task: gain weight.  Even gaining weight (primary physical developmental task at birth) is tied in to attachment.  To really thrive and put on those healthy rolls a newborn needs to eat every 2-(max) 4 hours.  This is because babies have tiny stomachs.  They can only hold and digest a few ounces as newborns.  So you fill them to the brim, and then a couple hours later they are again on E, ready for more.  Stretching the time between feedings doesn’t expand the size of their stomachs; it just forces them to sit longer in a state of hunger.  Needing to eat is not a behavioral issue, it is a physical one.  As much as your baby loves you and wants you to be rested, she cannot change her capacity to digest.  As she grows, her stomach grows, and so will the time between feedings.  Feeding on cue all day and feeding baby well her last feeding of the evening can stack all the cards in your favor.  Another great tip is to feed baby again when you are ready to go to bed/sleep.  Babies usually have one long stretch of sleep during the night.  Feeding baby when you are ready to go to sleep will help to align this sleep cycle with yours.  You should also consider sleeping close to baby.  In addition to being the safest sleep arrangement, sleeping near baby makes nighttime feedings easier.

The heart and poor blood circulation is another cause of night waking.  It is common knowledge among parents that baby’s feet and hands get cold while they sleep.  While ensuring proper room temp and dress is always a good idea, the most likely culprit is that the heart is not pumping enough blood to circulate to the hands and feet.  This results in cold hands and feet but for your baby, they are also crampy and stiff.  This is another one of those amazing survival defense mechanisms that when the body detects that the heart is not working hard enough oxygenating the entire system, an alert is sounded and baby wakes.  When baby wakes (and especially cries) the heart is thrown into overdrive rushing blood to all of the extremities and baby takes deep restorative breaths.  Ahhh nature, our babies are so smart.  Infant massage is extremely handy here.  Strokes that move away from the body’s core pull blood to the extremities and slow the heart rate, creating optimal conditions for sleep.   

Another common cause of night waking is a restricted airway.  Babies are not born with fully formed sinuses.  They are born with a cluster of predestined cells that are not even detectable by x-ray.  The sinuses are the honeycomb structure that process and store mucus.  Even normal, healthy amounts of mucus or especially if congested, babies struggle to breathe, especially since they can only breathe through their nose.  If they are congested or any kind of airway blockage occurs they lack the ability to manually alternate between nasal and oral breathing, so they wake.  That is glorious evolution, working its magic protective forces to keep your baby alive.  If the oxygen levels in his brain dip too low, the alert is sounded and he wakes, once again, frequently crying to rapidly re-oxygenate.  They also frequently awake with flailing arms when this particular alert is sounded, attempting to remove any external blockage of their airway.  Infant massage over the face and chest, a warm bath, breastmilk, incline (roll up a blanket and place it under the head of baby’s sleeping surface) and a humidifier can all help to stave off the mucus bug. 
 
Lastly, babies just have shorter sleep cycles.  They cycle through active and quiet sleep states about every 30 minutes.  These shorter sleep cycles leave your baby susceptible to waking as they transition between states.   It is believed to be a protective mechanism to wake up their systems and make sure they keep firing (breathing, pumping, digesting, etc.).  This is an especially protective mechanism against SIDS.  This is where it is important to emphasis “restful nighttime” over “sleeping through the night.”  You would rather have a baby whose brain is sensitive than had a baby whose brain wasn't sensitive enough.  Swaddling, white noise (waves, whales, womb, etc), and belly to back can all be helpful during this transition.  If your baby is waking, or wakes during the transition from you to the sleeping surface, you can lay them on their belly, while you are there watching.  Then after they have settled in and fallen into that next sleep state, you can gently roll them to their backs.  

So what’s a new family to do?  Well the first step in creating a peaceful night for your family is to change the goal for nighttime from sleeping through the night to HARMONY.  Nighttime harmony is priceless.  It is the experience of being peacefully in sync with your baby throughout the night.  It is the difference between fighting against your baby in a battle for sleep and being connected with your baby for the mutual goal of rest.

The primary tenant of nighttime harmony is to do what feels right for you and baby.  Listen to your innate wisdom as a parent.  Tune in to your baby and do what feels right.  This could take some soul searching.  It involves examining your preconceived notions of what should be.  Reach inside and pull out all your assumptions.  Where did they come from?  Try them on.  Does it feel like a good fit?  Look into the eyes of your baby and tap into that maternal wisdom.  If it feels right, keep it.  Integrate it into your new idea of nighttime with your baby.  If it doesn’t feel quite right, toss it.  You can respect the people who give you advice while at the same time recognizing that their advice doesn’t fit your baby or your family.

Let’s start with the ‘where’ of sleeping arrangements with baby.  That image of the perfectly decorated nursery is a nice one but when it comes to actually sleeping, you have to be a little creative, open-minded, and accepting of whatever arrangement gives everyone the most sleep.  Co-sleeping is something that most mothers come to unintentionally, out of a desperate need for more sleep.  After waking up, walking down the hall, picking up baby, nursing while sitting up in the rocking chair, and putting baby back to bed you think, “I’ll just pick him up and bring him to my bed and nurse him there.  That way I can lie down.”  You fall asleep nursing and realize, “Oh my god, I just slept 4 hours!”  The reason co-sleeping works so well is because baby is getting all the things that make him thrive: skin-to-skin contact, milk, mom’s breathing regulates his own, mom’s heartbeat is a soothing reminder of the womb, and mom’s chest even regulates baby’s temperature.  And while baby is in heaven, so is mom.  You do your job of meeting your baby’s needs while lying and resting effortlessly in bed- talk about harmony.  Breastfeeding in bed requires some new positions but they are totally worth mastering.  The side-laying position is the classic co-sleeping arrangement.  Lay on your side (you can put a pillow behind your back) and lay baby on his side, mouth to nipple.  You can rest his head on your arm or not.  Dads are sometimes unsure of how they will fair in this arrangement.  Assure your partner that a happy, rested mama means a happier wife.  Some dads end up spending the first month or so on the couch (my husband made a bed on the floor next to us) but a new baby takes work and sacrifice from both parents.  Dad has to do his part too.  As far as sex goes (while this is certainly not the priority immediately post baby), be creative!  The bed is not the only place for erotic fun.  Don’t worry, your baby will NOT want to sleep with you forever (despite what some advice-givers will tell you).

Research shows that when mom’s co-sleep with baby, they are so sharply attuned to baby that amazing things happen.  If baby moves his head back, mom moves her head forward.  If baby scoots down, mom scoots down.  This is called molding.  It is actually an amazing testament to the connection between mom and baby.  Mothers accommodate baby’s position all night long.  And the slightest wiggle or disturbance on the part of the baby results in a hovering, awake mother.  This is not true however, of fathers.  Since fathers don’t get to spend 9 months tuning in to baby, they are not attuned to baby while sleeping in this special way.  That’s why baby should sleep next to mom.  This attentive attunement is also not present if mom has had any alcohol, drugs, or medication.  Research also tells us that breastfeeding moms are especially tuned in to baby and this special relationship acts as a major protective force while co-sleeping.

You should know that research absolutely supports the safety of co-sleeping (refer to Attachment Parenting International, Dr. Sears, Dr. James McKenna).  That said there are some guidelines to maximize the safety of this sleeping arrangement.

•     Breastfeed
•     No big comforters pulled up near baby.
•     Make sure there is some kind of a bed rail or place the mattress on the floor to prevent the baby from falling off the bed.
•     No siblings in bed with baby.
•     Baby sleeps next to mom.
•     No co-sleeping if mom or dad has consumed any alcohol, drugs, or medication of any kind.
•     Put baby to sleep on their back.  

To co-sleep actually means to sleep in close proximity with baby.  What I described above is technically referred to as bed-sharing.  But co-sleeping can take other forms.  Consider using a co-sleeper.  You can buy a “co-sleeper” or side-car your crib to accomplish the same goal.  Assemble the crib in toddler bed mode (remove the front rail and attach the small support), raise the crib mattress to the same height as your mattress, and push the crib right up against your bed.  It is like an extension of your sleeping surface.  Baby will have her own designated space but be within arm’s reach.  This means you can hear every breath and all you have to do is open your eyes to see her little chest moving up and down.  You can pull her close for nursing and slide her back over to sleep.  Personally, this arrangement is ideal for me.   I find that this provides the perfect balance whereby I can get the best sleep.  If baby is in a different room I can’t sleep.  I worry about him and have to get up constantly to meet their needs.  If baby is in my bed all night, I feel like I am “on the clock” and have trouble reaching the deepest stages of sleep.  But with baby co-sleeping right next to me I can lay right next to him, nose to nose, all night long, pulling him over for breastfeeding periods and sliding him back when I want some serious sleep.  I encourage you to find the arrangement that works best for you.  Every baby is different.  Every mother is different.  Every family is different.  Do what works best for you and your baby.

How do you get baby to sleep to begin with?  Start by winding baby down with a nighttime routine.  Incorporating a bath and massage is a great way to wind down for the night.  Try to stick with the same routine every night but do what works best for you baby and your family and be flexible with phases, issues, or changing needs.  Try swaddling.  Some babies find peace in being tightly wrapped, mimicking the feeling inside the womb.  Wearing down baby in a sling is a great way to ease baby to sleep. Babywearing incorporates swaddling and mimics the womb, provides rocking, skin-to-skin contact, baby is soothed by the sound of your heartbeat and the boom of your voice.  Breastfeed while babywearing to release all those feel good hormones and fill baby’s tummy for a long stretch of sleep. Vacuum the house to add white noise and that pretty much utilizes the full arsenal.  It is good to have a nighttime “time” to keep in mind in your nighttime routine.  This time should not be a strict bedtime as you might have with an older child but a general guideline for putting the world to sleep: turn off the lights, don’t speak using high-pitched tones, no more games or playful engagement.  Embrace the transition and send the message that the daytime has ended and nighttime is here.  

You may find yourself months into a consistent nighttime routine that includes hours of uninterrupted sleeping bliss and then all of a sudden, your little one is awake for 2 hours at 2:00am.  Do not be alarmed.  You did not break your baby.  It is perfectly normal for babies to change their night life during developmental or physical growth spurts or changes in family life.  For example, if your little adventurer is right on the cusp of crawling, he may wake every night for a couple of weeks to spend an hour working on this skill.  When they are mastering a new skill or exploring a new understanding, they tend to devote all of their resources (time, energy, attention) to it- and nighttime is no exception.  Teething, a new level of understanding regarding strangers, hunger brought on by a growth spurt are all examples of developmental milestones that may result in a disruption of your nighttime routine.  Mom going back to work is a common culprit of nighttime unrest.  If your little one can’t bond with you during the day, he will adapt and try to meet those bonding needs at night.  Trust in your baby.  If they need some extra reassurance that you are present and keeping them safe at night- give it to them.  If they need to spend an hour working out at the crib gym- let them.  Keep nighttime as “night” time but trust that they are trying to meet a need, even if you don’t know what that need is.  If you meet their needs they will move through the phase and come out on the other side a happy little sleeper once again.

While always being able to meet all the needs of your baby is ideal, parents are human beings.  We need sleep.  If the goal is to be the best parent you can be, then sleep for you is going to need to be in that equation.  It is hard to balance the needs of your baby with your needs.  This will be a balance you will work on daily for the rest of your life.  Especially if you have a high needs baby, you have to give yourself permission to get the fuel you need to keep taking good care of that baby.  Sometimes this might mean calling daddy up from the batter’s box (giving daddy and baby time to establish their connection is good for both daddy and baby), giving a trusted family member a shift, or leaving baby in the crib.  I am not a fan of scheduling babies (because what that usually really means is putting baby on your schedule) but there are some situations when a schedule is what’s best for baby and family.  One example of this is with multiples.  To ensure every baby gets all the milk and sleep they need, schedules are sometimes necessary.  Doing what’s best for your baby and your family is the moral of this story.  Sometimes doing what’s best for you is what’s best for baby in the long run.   

Misconceptions about babies and sleep:

If you don’t put baby to bed while he is still awake, he will never learn to fall asleep on his own.  The logic behind this is that if you put baby to sleep while he is still awake, he will learn to self-soothe.  This idea came out of the big push for independence on the wave of “cry it out.”  Babies are dependent- they’re supposed to be!  If you look at the entire lifespan of a human being, they only need you for such a short period of time.  If you allow them to be dependent while it’s appropriate, they will establish security and feel safe and confident enough to be independent.  Developmental psychologists throughout history agree that the first task of infancy is establishing trust in caregivers and the world.  Once this is firmly established they can move into establishing independence.

If you pick up a baby when she is crying, you are teaching her to cry.  The logic behind this is that you are rewarding the behavior thereby reinforcing it.  This is taken from a very basic principle of learning psychology first studied with lab rats and frequently used with dogs.  Babies are not dogs.  As much as you may love your pet- it is not the same.  There are far more dynamics at play with a baby than a simple behavior/reward model covers.  Research has shown us that the opposite is actually true.  The “cry it out” method unfolds like this: baby communicates a need --> no response --> baby cries --> no response --> baby eventually gives up and learns that they their communication is not effective, caregivers are not there for them, their needs may not be met, and the world is not a safe place --> baby stops crying.  Now try this on for size: baby communicates a need --> caregiver responds sensitively (in an appropriate and timely manner) --> baby learns that communication is effective, caregivers are present and attentive, needs will be met, the world is a safe place --> baby does not need to cry.

Co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS.  Research shows that the opposite is true.  When babies sleep next to an attached caregiver there are several factors at play working to protect babies against SIDS.

•     Mother is tuned into baby for signs of distress.
•     Baby mirrors mother’s steady and rhythmic breathing (“reminds” baby to breathe).
•     Baby mirrors mother’s steady and rhythmic heart rate.
•     The sucking from frequent breastfeeding increases brain activity and fluid production, increases the flow and efficiency of all baby’s systems.
•     Skin-to-skin contact increases the level of feel-good hormones and decreases the level of stress hormones.
•     Mother’s chest actually regulates baby’s temperature.  If baby’s temperature rises, mother’s temperature lowers.  If baby’s temperature lowers, mother’s temperature raises and she expels heat from her chest to warm baby.

Once you bring a baby into your bed, you will never get them out.  Ridiculous.  As discussed above, a baby is dependent as an infant.  Allow them a time of dependence!  You will not have a 30-year-old in your bed.  The more you give them what they need to feel secure as infants, the more safe, secure, and confident they will feel to be more independent than their prematurely pushed counterparts.  If you are worried about it, you can use a transitional strategy.  Baby sleeps with you while they are breastfeeding during the night.  You can then put their bed right next to yours (like an extension of your bed).  You can then move their bed to the foot of your bed.  Lastly, move their bed into their room.  Include them in the process of selecting a bed and bedding and make it fun and positive.  On a personal note, my first born son slept in our room when he was a baby.  Even after he was done breastfeeding at night, my husband and I liked him in our room.  Since he worked all day, he valued the closeness having him with us at night provided.  As his second birthday approached, we asked him what he wanted and he said, “A big boy bed!”  We provided him with security and allowed him to take the lead in establishing his independence.  We now have a son full of love, trust, inner peace, and independence.

Babies need a strict bed time.  I am an advocate of teaching your children to listen to their bodies.  Babies are born with an amazing mind-body connection.  If nothing else, they know when they are hungry and tired.  Strictly scheduling babies can disrupt this connection.  Instead of telling your child to clean their plate, ask them to close their eyes and listen to their tummies.  “Is your body telling you you are hungry?”  The same is true for sleep.  As children get older nighttime can become a power struggle between parent and child.  Instead, encourage children to listen to their bodies, hear the signs of sleepiness, and respect them.  Have a good nighttime routine and keep moving in the direction of bed (upstairs, bathroom, bedroom, bed, etc.).  Try sending the message that the world is going to sleep: go outside to see the darkness, say good night to the sun, hello to the moon and stars, turn off the lights, turn down your voices, take a bath, have a massage, go to bed, read some stories, night-night.

Personal Anecdote:
After the birth of my first son I was trying to be the best mom I could be.  I was trying to do what everyone was telling me was right and one night found myself sitting on the edge of my bed, sobbing, clinging to the monitor, listening to my baby crying in the next room.  My husband walked over and very nonchalantly said, “If he wants you to hold him, and you want to hold him, why don’t you hold him?”  And there it was.  My world was never the same.  I threw the monitor, ran into his room, scooped him up, and never again put him down.  He didn’t just say the words, he truly meant them, through and through.  My husband, listening to his innate wisdom as a father, provided me with the key I needed to unlock all of my internal wisdom and empower my maternal voice.  I am forever grateful to my partner, spouse, co-parent, and best friend for setting me on the path toward reaching my potential as a mother, family therapist, and human being.  

Want more? I recommend The Baby Sleep Book by Dr. Sears. If you are looking for more specific strategies for solving specific sleep challenges, you may try The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley.

If you want to maximize the amount of sleep that is healthy for your baby, send him off to a Soothing Slumber with infant massage strokes for nighttime in the Soothing Slumber Video!

Rachel Rainbolt, M.A., CEIM
www.OhanaWellness.com

Thank you so much, Rachel, for letting us share your blog.  We will be posting more in the future, because each one I read, I like better than the last!  Have an idea for a blog?  Write to me at marlo@babiesbythesea.com.

Introducing the official Babies by the Sea Gift Registry checklist.  In it, we've included the top 10 items we think are the most useful for new parents.  Read through and see if you agree!

To see a larger version, go here and click to zoom.  To print a copy, click here

Baby Carrier: Foster attachment parenting with one of our award winning all-in-one soft ERGObaby carriers, unique double-sling Baby K’tans, or the Moby Wrap’s one size versatile and affordable wrap carrier. Here is a nice wintery scene featuring a woman happily strolling along with her baby in an Ergo in Highland Navy.

Stroller: The single or duallie BOB Revolution SE Stroller is your go-to stroller for everyday activities and not-so-everyday adventures. Here is the 2011 BOB Revolution SE Stroller in Plum.  This color is great in person!

Car Seat: The Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL car seats are convertible for rear-facing children 5 - 45 lbs and forward-facing children 20 - 80 lbs in a 5-point harness. Here it is in Bentley, likely named after the little boy on Teen Mom.  Just kidding. But isn't that a sharp looking car seat? And you don't ever have to buy a separate booster seat!

High Chair: Anka’s stylish high chair brings baby right up to the family table. Created for double duty, this sturdy high chair transforms into a booster seat to last through a child’s early years. Here it is in Espresso. So much more stylish than a giant plastic chair, right?

Nursing cover: Nurse discreetly in a fashionable ‘Mommy Must-Have’ cover by Bebe Au Lait. Here it is in Capri:

Swaddle Blankets: Aden + Anais’ 100% cotton muslin double-layer swaddling blanket has been touted as the “Best Sleep-Inducing Swaddle Blanket.” Here are the Bamboo Swaddles in Pyara- one of their most popular prints, and so incredibly soft!

Nursing Bra: Choose a Belabumbum Nursing Bra that caters to stylish women that are young at heart or the Original Nursing Bra by Bravado which is simply the most comfortable bra you’ll find. Here is the Belabumbum Lotus Seamless Nursing Bra in Pink. Who says nursing bras have to be dowdy?

Diaper Bag: Petunia Pickle Bottom was created for the sophisticate inside every woman. Silk brocades, organic cottons, hand-woven tweeds, plush chenilles, and exquisitely detailed embroidery—every one a Petunia hallmark. Here is the Boxy Backpack in Peaceful Portofino.  Love! And it's totally wipe-offable.

Breastpump: The Hygeia EnJoye Breastpump is designed for long-term & frequent pumping needs such as those of working mothers. Unlike other popular brands, Hygeia pumps are ecologically sound & designed for sharing between mothers when each has their own personal accessory set. Below is the Hygeia EnJoye LBI Rechargable Battery Breastpump with tote- our best selling pump, which is highly recommended by our lactation consultant, Shari Silady.

Crib Mattress: Naturepedic’s 2 In 1 Organic Cotton Ultra Baby Crib & Toddler Mattress will grow with your child for many years. It is waterproof on one side–perfect for infants, and quilted on the other–providing a more luxurious feel for older children.  They also offer changing pads.

Why should you register with Babies by the Sea Boutique?

1. To support your favorite Cardiff by the Sea/ San Diego baby store

2. To support your favorite Encinitas OBGYNs- Dr. Robert Biter and Dr. Damon Cobb at Women's Seaside Health

3. Because every dollar you spend here directly affects the community in a positive way

4. So we can continue offer the best baby products we can find!

What were/are some of your top items to register for? Would you register here at Babies by the Sea?

This is from guest poster, Gina, the Stroller Strides Cardiff instructor, who wanted to share this awesome deal with you Babies by the Sea Boutique blog readers and Facebook fans. 

In honor of our 10 Year Anniversary, we held a Top 10 Contest.  We asked our membership to give us their 10 Ten ways Stroller Strides has helped them make Strides in Fitness, Motherhood & Life.

 
Our winner is being awarded a 10th Anniversary t-shirt and 1-FREE Month of Stroller Strides Classes!  Congratulations to CHERYL CINA!

Here is Cheryl's Top 10 Contest Entry...
 
1. You would NEVER be dressed, ready, and out the door- with kids in tow- before 9am- if it weren't this much fun!
 
2. Sweating = great stress reducer!
 
3. The laundry might be dirty, the house might be a mess, but at least you get your exercise in the for day!
 
4. Where else do you get whistled at (while pushing a stroller!) that makes you feel like one sexy mama?!
 
5. It makes you feel great when you can do more pushups than your husband!
 
6. Two words: FLAT ABS!
 
7. The workouts are great, but what you REALLY look forward to is Moms' Night Out!
 
8. The Stroller Strides instructors with awesome bodies are an inspirations to keep working out!
 
9. Chatting with other mamas is fun and makes workouts go by fast!
 
10. When someone says "you look great, what's your secret?" you just smile, and think to yourself "Stroller Strides!"

Gina and the rest of the Cardiff Stroller Striders- how fun does that workout look?!

If you would like to make Strides in Fitness, Motherhood & Life, join San Diego Stroller Strides during our 10th Anniversary month for only $10 (normally $99).

Offer expires August 31, 2011 and is for a monthly membership with a 3-month commitment.

A big thank you to Tracy for contributing both the first and second blog posts for July.  I love this story because she describes so much of how things felt during labor so uniquely.  She even inserts some humor into her story, which I can always appreciate.  This was nearly 4 pages when open in Google Reader, but I found that at the end, I wanted to keep reading.  I didn't want it to end!  Of course, since Tracy is a writer, I was not surprised at all.  Anyway, enough of me- let's get to Olive's birth story!

Was I pregnant? I’ve already forgotten I hated it, simply remember loving it, and seem to have erased the feeling of giving birth naturally. So thank goodness I wrote it down.

I never felt a cramp, a Braxton Hicks, or a lower back ache during the 40 weeks I was pregnant. So when I developed a painful lower back ache and woke up to the ever so faint feeling of cramps in my lower stomach, I figured labor was not far to follow. But the whole day passed without much more action.

The “contractions” (I wasn’t sure that’s what they were) were extremely sporadic and far apart.  We’re talking hours apart and no more painful than a bit of gas. I spoke to Dr. Biter around 9pm and he told me drink some water and go to sleep. “When you’re having them, you won’t need to question it. Each one will be completely predictable,” he said.

Well just a few hours later, midway through The Santa Clause and feeling no action whatsoever, I got hit with a painful contraction at 12:31am. Then 5 minutes later at 12:36. Then 12:41, there it was again.  I said, “hm... I bet one is going to come at 12:46!” And it did. But then between 12:50 and 1:00 I felt three separate contractions, and I decided I’d go ahead and wake up my husband to keep me company. These were far too painful to sleep through!

I started timing them, and by 2:30am they had gotten pretty close together and lengthy. I began getting nervous because of the whole 411 rule and we called Dr. Biter back. He sounded so tired, and I felt bad for waking him up. I think we could have stayed at home longer, and although we didn’t want to get lumped into the category of first timers who rush to the hospital too fast, I was scared they were starting to come so quickly!

When we got to the hospital around 3:30am, I was almost 6cm dilated and the contractions started getting a bit more painful. Those were my first moments I started feeling nervous that this was going to be harder than I’d anticipated.

We had decided not to take any childbirth preparation classes because our schedules never fit the ones offered, and for how expensive they were, it just didn’t work out. At this point I started wondering if I’d made a mistake.

They moved us into a labor room, and I automatically disliked our nurse. She told me she had to hook me up to an IV, something I knew was not true from going on the hospital tour. I told her, “oh, no thank you, I am not going to do that.” She forcefully said that she had to do it as hospital policy, and I more forcefully responded that I knew for a fact she did NOT. She finally agreed to just put on the hep-lock, hydrate me for a half hour, and then I was free to roam IV-less.

This same amazing nurse then proceeded to tell me amidst my already mounting self doubt, how much more painful it was going to get once my water broke. It went something like this:

“I don’t know how I am going to do this, this REALLY hurts...”

“Well it’s only going to get worse.”

Just what you want to hear, right? The triage nurse came around to check in on me, and when I talked to her about my doubts, she reassured me that every woman feels that way, every woman gets to a point where they feel they can’t do it anymore, and it’s all mind over matter. She reminded me of all the women around the world doing this very same thing. I told her how much I wished she was my nurse.

Well she got the point, and at 7am when my old nurse was off, she appointed me one she said I’d love. And she was right. Her name was Molly, and I love Molly. She gave me back rubs and helped my husband. I can tell you right now, two pairs of hands is better than one.

After that it all sort of blends together. I was exhausted from being awake more than 24 hours, and all I could was close my eyes. We were trying all the things we had brought that are supposed to make labor more relaxing. The music was great for about an hour, then it bothered me, then I drowned it out completely. The aromatherapy minty scent I thought would refresh me made me want to throw up. The birthing ball felt good for a while until I felt like it was losing air and all of a sudden I couldn’t stand it.

I absolutely could not relax my body during contractions, I tried to breathe deep and slow, but it did nothing for me. They were just so close together and so painful- I felt cheated out of those beautiful breaks nature gives you between contractions, the ones that are supposed to let you get composure, the ones I had read about.

I found my greatest ability to comfortably labor alone in the bathroom, sitting on the toilet.

Molly had to monitor the baby’s heartbeat for 20 minutes each hour, and the only position that she could find it in was when I laid on my side. That position may as well have been the death of me. Each contraction felt 100 times more painful when I had to lay like that. Yet I was still so tired that if I did have a break between contractions, I was almost instantly asleep and dreaming. I wouldn’t realize it until a contraction started and woke me out of the dream.

And movement! Each time I had to simply move, I felt like it spurred a contraction. I would sit up from bed, have a contraction. Get off the bed, have a contraction. Shuffle 3 feet to the bathroom, stop and have a contraction. Then finally the peace of the bathroom. Everything felt alright when I was in the bathroom.

I would be very annoyed when my husband would knock on the door to check on me because I had to speak, even just enough to say, “I’m fine”. He said he was worried since I’d been in so much audible agony on the bed, then it would just be pure silence while I sat closed off on the toilet.

I felt like I was losing it, I felt like I was in a delirium and I was nowhere near the finish. I felt like there was no way in hell I was going to be able to do it. The thought of drugs never entered my mind, but I also felt that something was going to have to happen or I’d be in this forever. I cried a couple times, not because of the pain, but because I couldn't bear the thought of being in labor anymore.

I didn’t know where Dr. Biter was and I didn’t know when he was going to decide to show up, but I was tired, over sensitive, and getting really pissed off that I didn’t know where he was. But boy oh boy, when he showed up it made all the difference in the world.

He made me open my eyes and he gave me a different way to breathe. Instantly the breathing technique helped me. I remember thinking, “well finally something that is helping!” His phrases calmed me down somehow. Every time I was having a bad contraction and I felt like I was going to lose it, but he’d remind me that each one goes away, it just comes and goes, and I wasn’t so panicked.

Molly had suggested I take a shower but I had refused, it seemed like too much work and I couldn't be bothered. However, somehow Dr. Biter got me to comply. And it was amazing. It snapped me out of it a bit, I was able to wake up a little more and it felt really good.

It’s funny how you don’t care about any of the things you thought you would. I thought we’d put on bathing suits if we were going to get in the shower. But no, I just ripped off my gown and got naked in front of everyone, shuffling around in a naked crazy haze. Embarrassment is a small non-existent feeling compared to pain.

The other funny thing about labor is how something can feel good, and then instantly feel so annoying that you simply can not STAND it one second longer. The towel draped across my front to keep me warm in the shower would feel comforting, then all the sudden it was choking me, heavy, and I had to rip it off and hurl it across the room before I felt like I could breathe again. I remember saying very snappy things to my husband when he’d press on my back like, “push really hard....  IF YOU AREN’T GOING TO PUSH HARD DON’T PUSH AT ALL”. Being touched the wrong way was very, very, very annoying.

The shower was my best friend, and I can’t tell you how disappointed I was when the pain started getting too intense for the calmness I’d been experiencing there. I almost started crying again, I was so sad it wasn’t working anymore, and I felt hopeless. I got the slightest urge to push and I told my husband, so he ran out to find Dr. Biter again.

Then he said the best words I’d ever heard, “Well, lets get this baby out!”

Once I was on the bed my water broke, and aahhhhh what a great feeling by the way. That nurse who told me it was going to get worse was off her rocker. I LOVED when my water broke and I loved that when I was having a contraction, to push was an escape from the pain.

But he had me in all these different positions trying to push, and to me it felt like nothing was happening. All I kept thinking was how silly I felt because I must have been getting ahead of myself. Once again I felt like I was failing and this was never going to end. Finally I was in a sitting position, the one you see in all the movies, legs up in the air, and trying to push her out.

Feeling her head moving down was encouraging, but equally discouraging as she’d slide back up when I ran out of breath. Dr. Biter would say, “Keep pushing... push... push HARDER” and I was thinking, “are you kidding me?” I am completely out of breath, out of energy, seeing stars from pushing so hard and he is STILL saying push???

I realized I was not entirely curling up in the right position and once I figured that out, she really started making progress. I felt the “ring of fire” as they say, and I finally felt her head come out. I instantly relaxed and felt so relieved, but just for a split second because I realized I was not done pushing (more disappointment). When her body came out I heard everyone telling me to open my eyes and there she was. So tiny, arms wide open. I don’t remember too much, but my husband said at that moment he had never seen me look so happy, and it was that feeling that you hear about, the most joyous look upon my face I’d ever have. She was brought into the world by me, now a true mother, at 10:53 am on December 3rd.

They laid her so high upon my chest, I kept trying to look down to see her and I was jealous because everyone kept saying how beautiful she was. But feeling her there was just as good, and I’ve had plenty of time to stare at her since.

When I was in labor I thought it was insane, and I asked myself why God or nature made this process so painful. But the more days that passed, the less I remembered. All of the pain and doubt was replaced with feelings of pride and the confidence that I could do it again.

Thank you for sharing, Tracy! 

If you'd like to be a contributor to our blog, with your birth story or another idea, email marlo@babiesbythesea.com.

I am so excited to introduce a new guest blogger, Tracy.  Tracy has a sweet 7 month old baby daughter delivered by our very own Dr. Biter, and she has been coming into Babies by the Sea since she was pregnant.  Tracy is also a writer, and after our chat about blogging last week, she sent me this awesome little write up about a toy she bought for her baby.

During my last trip to Cardiff, I stopped in Babies by the Sea to see what was new. It’s only been a few days, but I’ve fallen in love with the new item we got. It’s a stacker made by My First Green Toys, and it just might be the perfect toy.

Last week I was washing off the brightly colored painted rings from a stacker that my daughter had been playing with. The paint started chipping off after just a couple rinses, totally grossing me out. Of course they had to be thrown in the garbage so my baby doesn’t start digesting paint chips.

My new stacker is made from 100% recycled milk jugs and made in the USA. They are totally safe for baby’s mouth, for rinsing off, and even for soaking. There is no BPA, PVC, or phthalates (a chemical used to soften plastic). The pieces can stack any which way whatsoever, even upside down, and there is no middle bar sticking out, which normally would make me worried to leave my daughter unattended.

If you really want to get creative, you can put little snacks in the tray area of the pieces (I was in a bind this morning and was happy I had them with me) and there was even a total surprise that my daughter discovered all on her own. When she is playing with them and putting them up to her mouth, the toy will make a whistling sound when she breathes into it! Not a loud annoying whistle, but the ever so faint and thrilling-to-a-baby kind of whistle. What a score.

She’s only seven months old so she doesn’t know how to stack them up yet, but she loves the bright colors, banging them together, and watching me take it apart and put it back together. I know this toy will grow with her. And true to good baby form, she is even interested in playing with the box, which is of course also made entirely from recycled materials.

Olive is learning how to crawl, and we love to stack them up in a big pile to inspire her. Oh and if you were wondering, we also got that cute blue bow at Babies by the Sea too.

Thank you, Tracy and Olive!  If you'd like to be a contributor to our blog, with your birth story or another idea, email marlo@babiesbythesea.com.

This week, we have another birth story from Amanda.  She wrote this with such great detail, and submitted it before her son was even three weeks old!  I was so excited to see such an amazing birth story show up in my inbox one afternoon two weeks ago. Lucky for you Babies by the Sea Blog readers, she's sharing it with you today.

A while back I shared with you my birth story of my daugher, Anella Paige Green, who is now 20 months old. Here is the birth  story of my newest miracle, Orion Page Green, born April 22, 2011....

This is something that I dreamed of and imagined since the minute I saw the positive pregnancy test, something that I was so excited to do all over again. Not only because I enjoyed Anella's labor and delivery so much but also because after 40 weeks of pregnancy the anticipation of meeting the miracle growing inside of me and finding out if it was a boy or girl is the most life-changing experience.

I was approaching my "guess date," and everyday felt fleeting moments of, "today could be the day" and then the next moment thinking, "I'm never going to have this baby!" Around the 10th of April I started having daily cramping and contractions, usually in the middle of the night sometimes enough that it would wake me up. Every time I'd wake up with cramping or contractions all I could think of is "Is today the day?!" and the excitement and anticipation would keep me awake for a little while.  I'd eventually fall back asleep, wake up in the morning and think, "well today is not the day." For some reason, I just knew that for me labor would happen in the middle of the night. Night after night, as I climbed in bed, I'd wonder if tonight was the night.

The night of April 21, I went to bed thinking that maybe this baby was going to be "late." My due date was April 23. I laughed to myself thinking that I'd make my "40 week" OB appointment after all, seeing that it was the afternoon of April 22nd. Little did I know.

After Wayne got home from work I took a bath, as I did almost every night in the last trimester. Got out, put on my pj's and headed downstairs for dinner. As I sat down for dinner I just felt "off," I can't explain it really I just felt like things were happening. I got really hot and just felt different, I mentioned it to Wayne in passing but didn't really put too much thought into it. He made dinner and as we sat down to eat I just didn't feel like eating it, a little nauseated but more than anything just "off." I mentioned to Wayne that maybe we should go to bed earlier than normal. Around 9:30pm we went to bed. I actually slept the best I had in months, I wasn't up every hour on the hour to pee like I had been. Actually, I only woke up once, at 1am, I rolled over to get up to pee and felt a gush of water. I laid there a second wondering if I had peed myself only to have it happen again.

I knew immediately what was going on; it was the exact same thing that happened with Anella. I got up and went to the bathroom to pee, checking my pants to make sure that there was no odor and that it was clear. I peed and knew that labor was around the corner. I walked out of the bathroom and woke up Wayne. Now I was quite surprised when he asked, "Are you sure?" I actually laughed and said, "Yes, I'm sure." I immediately called my parents as they were coming over to watch Anella for us and asked Wayne to call Dr. Biter. After I got off with my parents Wayne still hadn't called, he was still in a sleepy haze. So I called Dr. Biter's office.

I decided to take a shower and just enjoy the warm water. We headed downstairs to wait for my parents and I sat on my birthing ball.  I was starting to get stronger contractions, nothing regular but I could tell they were doing what they were supposed to be doing.  All I could think about was how Thursday April 21st, was my last day of just the three of us, my last day with just Anella, and I asked Wayne to go get her so I could give her a kiss before we left. My parents showed up at 1:30am which was perfect timing. They were surprised to see Anella awake and I, of course, started crying. I just knew that our life would never be the same, her life would never be the same. And although I was so excited to meet my miracle, at the same time, I was just overwhelmed by all that was going on. I told Anella that, "mommy was having the baby," and asked for a kiss. She gave me a kiss, and then gave baby a kiss which she had done a million times during the pregnancy, then she gave

Wayne a kiss, and we handed her to Grandpa, who took her to bed. We had a 25 minute drive to the hospital, and knowing how fast my labor with Anella had gone, we wanted to get there ASAP. We left at 1:35am- I was so glad that it wasn't rush hour, seeing that rush hour could have potentially added an additional 45-60 minutes to our drive.  As we got on the freeway, I was very surprised to see that it was stopped; the three left hand lanes had been closed down and the freeway was narrowed down to one lane. The traffic was SLOW. I laughed and said to Wayne, "who would have thought that we'd get stuck in traffic at 2am!" We decided to take the side streets to avoid getting stuck in the traffic. As we drove, I was able to get myself into a very relaxed state during each contraction, and I was noticing by the time we got there I was having them about every 4 minutes.

We checked in, got in our room, I changed into my gown and waited for the nurse. She came in and immediately wanted to hook me up to the monitor- this is something that I remember with disdain from Anella's delivery. This time around I took it with stride. I laid down and she hooked me up, I was counting down the 20 required minutes. During each contraction I would go within and be completely relaxed (I would repeat some of the birthing affirmations from Hypnobirthing in my head over and over), and after it ended I would talk with Wayne and the nurse.

We gave her our birth plan which she read and immediately changed some of her wording (not using any reference to pain) and she was really excited to find out that we didn't know the sex of the baby. She said that she only has one or two deliveries a year that they don't know the sex. After the 20 required minutes the nurse mentioned that she didn't get a "reactive" strip from the baby so she wanted to keep me on the monitor.  I agreed to stay on the monitor, she then wanted to do an internal. Since I hadn't gotten a cervical check during the last few weeks of pregnancy, I had no idea what I'd been, and when she checked me, I was 5cm.

She then got me some ice water hoping to get the reactive strip that she was looking for. I drank it fast. Still with each contraction, I would go to my relaxed state and then chat with the nurse and Wayne after. It took much longer to get the reactive strip than I planned, but I had gotten so comfortable on the bed that when she told me I could get up I realized I didn't want to. I kept telling Wayne how nice it was to have these "breaks" between contractions. I never had them with Anella, and I was thankful to have them this time.

I spent almost my entire labor in the bed hooked on the monitor, this is NEVER in a million years how I pictured my birth.  At one point the nurse came in to check me, I'd had the monitor off and she wanted to check the baby's heart rate before, during and after a contraction. She put the monitor on the heartbeat and waited, after a few minutes she said, "Can you tell me when you're having a contraction because I can't tell by looking at you!" This made my day; Wayne had kept telling me how amazing I'd been doing, but to have a stranger reiterate it was invigorating. She did another cervical check and I was a 7. She told me she'd go call my Doctor and let him know to come in. I had drank a ton of water and gotten up a ton of times to pee and would continue to lay back in the bed and go into my relaxed state during each contraction.  I remember thinking to myself, "I wish we were taping this for Hypnobirthing class." 

Dr Cobb showed up around 5am. At that point he checked me and I was 8cm, but my water was still intact, so Dr. Cobb asked if I wanted him to break it. I had always thought if I was in this situation I'd say no, but I really wanted to get to the pushing phase so I asked him to go ahead and break my water.  I continued going deep within with each contraction, and we would talk, and I would close my eyes and get quiet. Dr. Cobb would put his hand on my leg and Wayne would do light touch massage. I got up to pee for what felt like the 100th time, as I was sitting on the toilet, I heard Dr. Biter walk in. I had two more contractions while sitting on the toilet, then came out of the bathroom and gave Dr. Biter a hug and said, "let's have a baby."

I got back in the bed and went into my relaxed state with each contraction, I started to feel a lot of pressure and asked Dr. Cobb to check me again. At this point I was 9cm; I was disappointed because with all the pressure I had really thought that I was fully dilated. I started to lose my focus and it was suggested I get up out of bed to help move things along. As I went to get up things intensified even more. I slow danced with Wayne and all of a sudden got so hot, I couldn't cool myself down.

Dr. Biter brought me ice cold wash cloths which helped but I was still so hot I had to pull off my gown. The intensity was starting to overwhelm me. Dr. Biter took a sheet and wrapped it under my belly with each contraction, he'd pull back on it to help lift the baby. I got to a point where I could barely stand, and I wasn't getting a break between contractions. I mentioned that I had even more pressure, so Dr. Biter suggested I let Dr. Cobb check me again. Just the thought that I had to lay back down on the bed was overwhelming. I got back in bed and lost all control I'd had; with each contraction I was taken over by the sensations and pressure from the baby.  When Dr. Cobb checked, I was fully dilated but I had a small cervical lip on the right, so they asked me to lay on my right side. I rolled over and tried to gain control again. With each contraction I would moan, I remember hearing myself thinking, "is that coming from me?"

I got to a point where I had no control and my body started pushing for me- and when I said, "I have to push," Dr. Cobb & Dr. Biter told me to let my body do what it needs. We had a mirror set up so I could see the pushing phase (something I had regretted not having with Anella).  I started the pushing phase which with Anella had given me a feeling of relief, I was so looking forward to this phase. Well as each labor is different, I did not get the feeling of relief this time around.

I remember looking in the mirror with each push thinking that the baby was never going to come. I finally found the right "push." Dr. Cobb & Biter told me when I hit the perfect push and I was able to continue to recreate it, knowing that it would bring me my baby. I looked in the mirror and saw the baby's head, and that was all the motivation I needed. I pushed with everything I had, and the head was out. Dr. Cobb had to remove a cord wrap from around the baby's neck, and then I was able to push again. The shoulders came out, and Dr. Biter told me to reach down and grab my baby. I grabbed under the arms (thinking to myself, "WOW this baby is slippery") and brought my baby to my chest.

Dr. Biter asked Wayne if it was a boy or a girl, and I looked in the mirror and saw testicles. It didn't matter, though I KNEW the entire pregnancy our baby was a BOY! I laid there in complete awe of the last 40 weeks and the miracle laying on my chest. I immediately started breastfeeding; Orion latched within the first 10 minutes after birth.

Orion was born at 7:13am, 6 hours after my water broke at home. Almost an identical story to Anella's birth. Both born the day before their due date, both having some of my water (forebag) break at home which sent me into labor, Anella's water broke at Midnight and was born at 6:01 am, Orion's water broke at 1am, born at 7:13am. The similarities are crazy.

Wayne and I spent an hour alone with Orion just relishing in the life we created. We then called for the nurse to come in and weigh and measure Orion. We got him on the scale and was shocked to see that he weighed 8lbs 14oz. I knew he was going to be bigger than Anella (she was 8lbs 5oz) but I had no idea he was that BIG. I look back at both Anella & Orion's birth and feel so empowered and so in awe of the miracle that my body went through for those 40 weeks. 

Thank you again for sharing, Amanda!  That was a fantastic story.

If you'd like to be a contributor to our blog, with your birth story or another idea, email marlo@babiesbythesea.com.

After a hiatus, we are back with another birth story! This next story was sent to us from Mercedes, a student in Carol Yeh Garner's HypnoBirthing class. Like many of the other HypnoBirthing stories I've read, the techniques she learned in the class seemed to help move labor along quickly and efficiently, until finally, her sweet baby was out into the world.

Sunday Dec 27th, 2009

8am: Another beautiful day in San Diego is upon us as the sun peeks through our blinds, rousing us from sleep.  Little do I know I have just woken up from my last slumber as a pregnant woman!  We wake up with a lot on our agenda. But first breakfast needs to be made.
Corey makes some green chile egg sandwiches, and we get dressed to go to meditation class downtown.

10am: We make it to meditation class at the Buddhist center in San Diego.  Gabriel is very calm throughout, probably plotting his exit. After the class we head home and eat leftovers from Christmas.

1pm: I go for a prenatal massage.  When I return, I notice Corey’s nesting instinct has kicked in, as he is immersed in a deep cleaning of the kitchen.

2:30pm: We go to look at a house in Poway.  Nice place with a big kitchen and an amazing backyard for Gabriel to explore.  As we are leaving, another couple about our age is waiting to look at the house as well, carrying with them a brand new little baby.   On our way home we stop by the Farmer’s market. Gabriel was hungry again, so we feed him bratwurst from the sausage stand, with lots of spicy relish and a little bit of sauerkraut.

4pm: Headed back home.  Corey is adamant about making his homemade leftover turkey soup.  In between cooking he continues to clean the kitchen.  He does not want me to do anything, so he makes me a warm bubble bath with rose petals for me to relax with my HypnoBirthing music in the background and candles lit.   Ahhhhhhhh……

6-7pm: We are talking on the phone with Corey’s parents and then with my mom and sister.  In the middle of a conversation with my Tia Anita, I start feeling these “menstrual-like” tightness in my abdomen every 10 minutes or so. Not very painful or frequent, so we wonder…… is this labor?  Practice labor?  The sauerkraut?  And why is our dog Winston acting so strange, does he know something we don’t?

9pm:  Definitely not the sauerkraut.  Tightness episodes becoming more frequent, but no pattern is emergent.  I thought there was supposed to be a pattern?! The googling of many labor-related keywords starts, followed finally by a call to our doula, Connie, who reassures us that everything that is happening is normal, that those tightness episodes are definitely surges, and that this baby is definitely coming soon!  She tells us to call when we are heading to the hospital, but we still have no idea when exactly we are supposed to do that. 

The next few hours are a blur.  The surges come and go with no emerging pattern.  Sometimes they last 10 seconds and sometimes they last almost a minute, and there is anywhere from 4 to 10 minutes between.  This is not how Google told me it was supposed to be. Nonetheless, we start to get focused.  We listen to the HypnoBirthing CD, Corey reads scripts, and I take a few hot showers, which really help ease the pain.  We try to nap between surges, but to no avail. Long night ahead of us.

Monday Dec 28th, 2009

12am:  I think I’m getting the hang of this labor business.  When the surges come, Corey coaches me through my breathing techniques while gently doing light-touch massage.  We crank up the volume on the HypnoBirthing CD and I do my best to get through the surges, one at a time.  At one point I have an uncontrollable urge to barf.  Corey sprints to the bathroom and grabs a trash can just in time for 99% containment – it could’ve been a lot worse.  Back into the shower to clean off and ride through a few more surges.  Damn, does that shower make it feel better.

3am: I thought my water broke in the shower, but I'm not sure.  To be on the safe side we head to the hospital.  We grab our hospital bag, a big pillow, and our birthing ball.  Winston wants to come, but unfortunately he has to stay behind.  Luckily, we had previously given our awesome dog sitter and friend Sherry a spare key to the house, and told her to be on the lookout for a text along the lines of “OMG baby on way!!! Pls get W”

3:30am: We arrive at the hospital, and it’s after-hours so we have to check in at the ER.  The triage nurse asks me to come with him but Corey refuses to leave my side, so he comes to the triage station with me, holding a 4-foot diameter ball in one hand and a body pillow in the other.  I’m having surges while the nurse is asking me asinine questions, so I just point to Corey and he answers for me, while nurses and doctors try to squeeze past him.  Finally, we are admitted and another nurse comes with a wheelchair to escort me to the labor and delivery room.  She takes her sweet time, pointing out locations of interest such as the gift shop and the cafeteria.  In the L&D room, they ask me to pee in a cup and change. 

I brought my own birthing clothes so I change into those, and when I try to pee, my water breaks.  Wow, this is really happening.  My water just broke.  I am definitely in labor!  As I return to the bed, they place me on fetal monitor, which is only supposed to last for 20 minutes, but somehow every 20 minutes the nurses have a compelling reason why it has to stay on for another 20 minutes.  When they check my dilation, I am 9.5 cm! They finally let me go off the fetal monitor, so I move into a more comfortable position—on all fours leaning against the head of the bed.  With Corey and my Doula at my bedside, I breathe through the pushing, chanting “Welcome Baby” with my helpers and making the occasional grunt.  Corey later said I sounded like a weightlifter.

5:36am: After 1-2 big pushes, Gabriel plopped out of me into the nurse’s arms...I felt his arms and legs easily exiting, and we welcomed our happy baby into the world.

Thank you for sharing, Mercedes!  That was a wonderful story.

If you'd like to be a contributor to our blog, with your birth story or another idea, email marlo@babiesbythesea.com.